Leadership Team

Chicason GroupLeadership Team

GROUP LEADERSHIP

Meet our GROUP Chairman

CHIEF (DR.) ALEXANDER CHIKA OKAFOR (OON, KSC)
GROUP CHAIRMAN

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Chief (Dr.) Alexander Chika Okafor (OON) is the Chairman and founder of Chicason Group of companies. A native of Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State, Chief, (Sir), Alexander Chika Okafor started his business as a local trading house in 1980 and graduated in later years into a conglomerate.

Today, the Chicason Group, comprising of thirteen vibrant companies, is a high profile, technology-driven, customer oriented conglomerate, conceived to be among the best indigenous groups in Nigeria and Africa, in terms of product quality and service delivery.

Its business activity traverses across manufacturing oil & gas, mining, real estate, trading, health care delivery, agriculture and travel management. With increasing commercial exposure outside of Nigeria, the Group aims at strategically growing into a leading Pan-African entity, with a well-diversified portfolio.

An astute businessman of international repute, Dr. Okafor has held various offices in business and social organisations including President, Nnewi Chamber of Commerce as well as Patron, Nigeria – South African Chamber of Commerce. He is also the current Patron, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

He is a fellow of many professional bodies including the Institute of Corporate Administration (FICA), Nigerian Institute of Sales Management (FNISM) and Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE). In 2008, the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State of Nigeria awarded him an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration.

For his envisioning and actualising a high profiled conglomerate and making a huge economic impact in Nigeria and other African nations, Chief (Dr.) Okafor is a recipient of many national and international awards. He has been awarded the African International Award of Merit and the Paul Harris Award by Rotary International.

In 2008, he was conferred the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He is also a recipient of AUTHORITY Icon Award as the ‘Businessman of the Year 2016’.

He is a visionary, an emphatic leader, a philanthropist and a purpose-driven man.

SANI DAURA AHMED. AIG (Rtd); CON; OFR; NPM; MNI
Group Vice-Chairman

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Alhaji Ahmed has had successive exposure to school up to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he read Law.

He joined the service of the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1971 and rose to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police in 1992. He retired in 1999. While in service, he served in various commands, zones and also as Military Governor of Yobe State.

Alhaji Ahmed attended various Senior and Management courses prominent among which are Internal Security Course in Canada and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru-Jos. Alhaji Ahmed has participated in very important Ad-Hoc assignments for the Federal Government. They include -Membership of the Port Decongestion Committee and the Commission of Failed Contracts and Supplies as well as the Chairman for the Commission of Inquiry into Abuja Investment and Properties.

Between 2001 and 2006, Alhaji Ahmed was a full-time member of the Police Service Commission.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Meet our Executive Team

Chux Adike
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR

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Mr. Chukwunenye Adike has been an Executive Director before his appointment. With 25 years of career experience in various performance-driven organizations of which he served 8 years in  Chicason Group. Until he was appointed Group Managing Director, he was responsible for the Group’s Corporate Planning, Strategy, Business Development, E&P upstream, Offshore business offices, and public sector projects. Mr. Adike is a Fellow of the Institue of Credit Administration-FICA, he holds an MSc in Economics, an MBA in Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

He is a thought leader in the following sectors – Oil and Gas, Commercial/Investment Banking, International Trading, and Business Consultancy. In addition, Mr. Adike is an experienced business and people manager, as well as an investment and strategy specialist. He has attended numerous functional and strategic courses locally and internationally.

As GMD, Mr Adike will build on our strong record of enterprise and provide leadership to the growth initiative across all projects of the Group’s businesses and affiliates worldwide..

 

Mr. Dikanna Chika Okafor
DEPUTY GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR

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Mr. Dikanna Chika Okafor was the Executive Director, Operations and Services at Chicason Group of Companies. Before joining the Chicason Group of Companies, Mr. Dikanna served in different capacities with Reading, United Kingdom, and Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).

He is a member of the Institue of Director Nigeria (IOD). He has attended various international courses on Oil and Gas (CITAC), Trading (Cambridge Princeton), and Family Business Management (INSEAD).

Mr. Dikanna Chika Okafor is the founder and Chairman of Dyko Oil and Gas services. A Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Reading, United Kingdom, an Alumnus of Lagos Business School (LBS), and a fellow of the school of General Studies of the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

He is a speaker, mentor, an accredited and certified coach practitioner as well as a member of the International Coaching Federation(ICF).

As Deputy Group Managing Director, he will work hand in hand with the Group Managing Director to deliver on the group’s overall strategy.

ENGR. SIR LINUS O. ILOZUE (KSJI, FNSE, FNSChE, JP)
Executive Advisor (Manufacturing Expansion Projects)

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Engr. Linus Oseloka Ilozue is a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU); he also holds an MBA from the University of Port Harcourt and is an Alumnus of Lagos Business School (LBS, CEP9). He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers. He started his career in LBN (now Unilever) in 1978 after his NYSC in the same company and rose to the position of production manager LBN (Aba) in 1985.
He joined Chicason Group in 1990 as an Executive Director. Since 2004, till quite recently, Engr. Ilozue had been the Managing Director of Chicason Group (Manufacturing). In that capacity, he oversaw the activities of A-Z Petroleum Products Limited, RIMCO Limited, Promotex Industrial and Chemical Company Limited: He is currently the Executive Advisor, Business Expansion projects.
He is the current President, Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture after being Deputy President for 2 consecutive terms. He is a member of the following: Nigeria Society of Tribologists; Nigeria Institute of Management and National Technical Committee on Standards for Petroleum Products.
He was Chairman Lubricant Marketers Stake Holders Committee under the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and also of Anambra State Petroleum Task Force. He is married to Lady Christy O. Ilozue, a retired Principal of Secondary Schools, and is blessed with God-fearing Children. He is a Knight of St. John International (KSJI).

MR. K. C. CHIGBO
Executive Director (Finance)

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Mr. K. C. Chigbo is a motivated and creative player in the manufacturing industry, with over 28years experience. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). His working experience saw him traverse the manufacturing industry and Accounting Professional Practice. He started his accounting professional service with Lancaster Okoro & Co. (Chartered Accountants) in Aba as Audit Senior Officer.

He later moved over to Pannel Kerr Forster (Chartered Accountants) in Kaduna where he served for 3 years (1985 – 1987) as Assistant Manager. In July 1989, he joined Ijewere & Co. (Chartered Accountants) as the Resident Manager in charge of Northern Nigeria. Although promoted in December 1989 to become a Partner in recognition of his hard work and expansion of the Northern Business Territory, he resigned with effect from January 1990 to join Emenite Limited (a Manufacturing Company) and member of Etex Group WORLDWIDE, with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. After holding various management positions, Mr. Chigbo once again moved over to Chicason Group of Companies where he is currently the Executive Director (Manufacturing).

An Alumnus of Manchester Business School, Mr. K. C. Chigbo also holds a Masters Degree (MBA) in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and also a Higher National Diploma from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, as well as a Fellowship of the Direct Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (DIMN).

An articulate, confident and hardworking person who relishes in challenges and working under pressure, Mr. Chigbo strives to achieve the highest standard possible at any given task. An open minded, patient, supportive towards other people, K. C. Chigbo possesses an excellent ability to motivate and communicate at all levels, thereby ensuring an excellent working environment for all members of the team to perform at their best. Mr. K. C. Chigbo is married with children, enjoys reading religious books and dancing religious music.

 

ENGR (MRS) PHILIPPA ULASI
Executive Director (Controls & Compliance)

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Engr (Mrs) Philippa Ulasi holds a Bachelor of Engineering Honours Degree (B.Engr Hons) in Mechanical Engineering as well as Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Financial Management.
In the course of her career, she also attended several courses, both locally and abroad. A Chartered Engineer and a seasoned Development/Corporate Banker with several years experience in the Financial Services sector, including NIDB and NBCI (now BOI); she is an experienced Credit/Risk Manager, having headed Risk Management in two top banks (ETB and Bank PHB), rising to the position of Vice President/Chief Credit Officer of Bank PHB. She is quite versatile, with hands-on experience in industrial projects and first –hand interaction with major project financing feats.
She has over twenty three (23) years post graduate experience in diverse areas including Corporate Banking, Relationship Management, Business Development, Inspection(Audit),Banking Operations and Risk Management, before joining Chicason Group of Companies in May 2010, as Executive Director (Controls & Compliance).
Engr. (Mrs.) Ulasi is inter alia a corporate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers as well as a member of the Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

Nayo Ugoh
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - HCM AND SERVICES

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Coach Nayo Ugoh is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is a Certified Personal & People Transformation Coach, strategic Chief Human Capital, Process, Technology and Culture Consultant with deep experience in linking business strategy to people, process, culture, and performance.

Before her appointment as the Executive Director of Human Capital Management & Services for Chicason Group of Companies, she had held various top leadership positions in several organizations. She has received many local and international awards and recognitions such as Top 501 Most Fabulous Global HR Leader, Career Influencer Awards, and Global HR Champions Award.

She is a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Credit Administrators, Charted fellow CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development), Certified Hay Evaluator, SHL accredited Assessor and design, Hofstede Insights Certified Culture Consultant, Member Institute of Directors (IOD) amongst others.

She has over 25 years of Corporate Services experience spanning diverse sectors. As Executive Director, Human Capital Management & Services, she is responsible for end -to end people Management, Culture, Process, Technology, Services, and Leadership Development reporting directly to The Group Managing Director.

Alex Ojukwu
Executive Director (Mining & Special Projects)

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Alex Ojukwu has multi-industry work experience spanning over 28years in Banking, Mining, Manufacturing, Consulting with a significant portion of time spent in “Executive and Strategic” roles covering Management, Marketing, Audit/Control, Risk Management, M&A, and Information Technology. He was until 2010, Assistant Vice President, Remedial Asset Management Group with Bank PHB Plc (now Keystone Bank Limited). He was Executive Director, Risk Management, @Eta Zuma Group Limited {An extractive Industry Operator} and is the Founder and Managing Partner, Damos Practice Ltd – Risk Management Consultants. For five years until 2016, he was on secondment from Chicason Group to Afro Asia Automobile and Plastic Limited (a member of the Group) as Managing Director. He was a Non-Executive Director with Fidelity Bank Plc until December 2020, when he finished his term.  He is currently Executive Director, Mining and Special Projects, @Chicason Group, where he has handled executive Management roles since 2011.

He holds a bachelor’s degree “B.SC” Finance, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Masters’ in Business Administration” MBA”, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria CIBN, (FCIB). For executive education, he is an alumnus of Lagos Business School “Pan Atlantic University”; Institute of Management Development “IMD”, Lausanne, Switzerland; Harvard business School, Boston MA, USA; Member of the Institute of Risk Management “IRM” UK etc.

GROUP HEADS

MEET OUR GROUP HEADS

IGNATIUS NWOKO
GROUP HEAD INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

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An experienced, resourceful, and well-trained IT Service Manager with a record of achievements in translating business requirements into successfully implemented IT solutions and instituting best practices in IT Service Management. Key skills include requirements elicitation, business process modelling, IT systems analysis and design and IT Service management based on the ITIL best practice set and other standard IT Business management frameworks.
In most situations technical decisions must be made within the context of larger business constraints and over his career business issues are always in the forefront, be it as a business analyst collecting, understanding, and transmitting business requirements for projects, drafting of Functional Requirement Specification documents based on the understanding of Business Requirements; as a project manager implementing a new product framework to capture defects as early as possible, or as the IT administrator for an enterprise system, allocating resources and prioritizing enhancements to meet strategic objectives.
Ignatius has worked with three financial institutions, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Mining and Real Estate in Nigeria over the past 25 years as well as a conglomerate in different capacities as an IT Administrator, Head IT & Group IT Manager. His experience in business strategies/solutions implementation has significantly assisted him in demonstrating strong leadership (especially in Strategy & Business Technology Transformation).
He has pioneered the establishment of a business analysis center of excellence and a core IT service management function. Successfully led the execution and adoption of strategic initiatives that have yielded cost reduction, enhanced income potential, and provided competitive advantage.
As an ITIL, CCNSP & HP Certified Practitioner, his area of specialty includes
IT Service Management
IT Infrastructure Management
Project Management
Vendor Management
People Development
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning
Leadership & Communication.

Ignatius holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Lagos State University, Ojo and currently, a Master of Science degree in Computer Science student at Caleb University, Imota. He is married and blessed with children.

Okechukwu (Okey) Uche (LLM; BL; LLB; PG Dip)
General Counsel &Legal Services

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Okey has 26 years of professional service rendering law, policy and development services to public and business organisations. He is General Counsel and Company Secretary, Chicason Group. He earned a law degree from the University of Calabar in 1990 and was enrolled as a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1991.

In 2007 he received a postgraduate degree (LLM) in Resources Law and Policy from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (CEPMLP).

A large part of Okey’s work has been devoted towards developing critical sectors of the Nigerian economy such as Infrastructure, Consumer Protection and Mining. On Infrastructure: Okey, as Managing Director of Accoplan Development Company Limited, led Accoplan form a consortium with African Finance Corporation and UBA Capital Plc. that subsequently drafted the National Infrastructure Financing Policy for the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He also advised the Committee on Works of the Federal House of Representatives on Road Infrastructure and advised the Committee organise the Public Hearing on: The Urgent Need to Address the Near Total Collapse of Federal Roads across the Country; and a Bill for an Act to provide for the Maintenance of Public Infrastructure, and Other Matters, 2011.

As co-founder of Conswatch Services Ltd, Okey conceived and wrote the Business Plan for the “Products and Services Monitoring & Registration Programme (ProServe)” for Nigeria’s Consumer Protection Council.

At Chicason Group, Okey is responsible for the Group’s legal services across six African countries and multiple sectors including Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Trading, and Transport. He has been active in (re)structuring Group and Group companies; arranging equity and debt capital; and negotiating and drafting contracts. His draft 5-Year Strategic Plan for the Group’s legal services is the template for effectively managing legal departments in Nigeria and globally.

For continuous improvement, Okey participates at in development events around the world. Mr. Uche’s professional and business memberships have included: Nigerian Bar Association; International Bar Association; Commonwealth Lawyers Association, London, United Kingdom; Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Toronto, Canada; Society of Mineral Explorationists, Colorado, USA; Scottish Oil Club, Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married and blessed with children and enjoys music and chess for relaxation.